Sher Poetry

2 responses to ““Sailing to Byzantium” by William Butler Yeats.”

1. 

   Anonymous

   October 19, 2024 at 9:11 am

   “No country for old men” this line stood out for two reasons
   1) published in 1928, the year English women right to vote… only men wrote and published, the use of “men” is not interchangeable with “humans”.
   2) A 2007 movie of this name, death by grim reaper, no Byzantium in this film

   “un-aging intellect” As an aging human, I reflect on gold wisdoms that survive centuries and I wonder if I can leave indestructible words, some immortal essay.
   Meh, I accept transient.

   “Byzantium” is where the poem leaves me. The country belongs to the young, then Yeats posits a future where the tattered coat is redeemed for eternal sole. A breathless imagining that endings we witness are not ends but transitions. Might be.
   Might not.

   I did not know about old castle in Yeats life. I like how the poems on SherPoetry have commentary and color!
   Thanks

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   1. 

      Sher Schwartz

      October 19, 2024 at 9:30 am

      I thought about heaven or utopia, and how Yeats’s suggests he wants that utopia, but leaves it open, and I like that. He realizes the body-form is going and will not be acting in the young man’s world any more. I knew this would be a tough poem for many, but I liked it (plus I try to present a wide range of voices). I found it a poem to think about, and it reflects the poet and his class and time- and yes, that is why it seems right out of the school text book. Thanks for sharing these ideas. Great!

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